Jo Becker: "Children, like all human beings, have a right to physical integrity and equal protection under the law. Russia’s proposed law violates these guarantees"

"One of the fundamental responsibilities of parents is to discipline their children and provide them with guidance. But discipline should not include violence. Parents often hit their children because it is socially accepted and because they themselves were hit when growing up. But a growing body of research shows that corporal punishment can cause enormous harm. Children who experience corporal punishment are more likely to engage in violence, and delinquent or anti-social behavior, and to experience anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and low self-esteem. [...] Children, like all human beings, have a right to physical integrity and equal protection under the law. Russia’s proposed law violates these guarantees. It is also harmful, counter-productive, and out of step with global trends. The Russian Parliament should reject it."